Marco Rubio wins big praise from Rush Limbaugh

Sen. Marco Rubio went into Rush Limbaugh’s lion’s den on Tuesday and came out with a rousing praise and support from the conservative radio show host for the Florida Republican’s effort to reform the country’s immigration system.

“What you are doing is admirable and noteworthy. You are recognizing reality. You are trumpeting it. You are shouting it,” Limbaugh said on his radio program during a 15-minute phone interview with Rubio. “My concern is the president wants to change the reality.”

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Limbaugh was not critical of the bi-partisan group of eight senators’ plan as he had been on his program Monday when it was unveiled. Instead, he shied away from discussing details of the plan and focused more on concerns that Obama was using the immigration issue for political advantage. Limbaugh asked Rubio if he thought Obama really sought compromise or whether he wanted to preserve the status quo so the president could paint Republicans as anti-Hispanic for political gain.

“They can try to sell that, but I doubt people are going to buy it. Because the reality of it is we have put something that is very common sense and reasonable,” Rubio said.

“They can’t argue that we haven’t tried to do our part to come up with something reasonable here, which has always been our point,” Rubio added. “Our point has always been that we have to fix this problem, but just because we’re for what you’re for doesn’t mean that we’re anti-immigrant and anti-immigration. And I think certainly it’s hard to make that argument to me… I didn’t read about this in a book, I live this everyday.”

Limbaugh repeatedly commended Rubio, saying that he hopes he succeeds in selling conservative ideals to the public.

“Senator, it wasn’t that long ago when your message was what this country was, it wasn’t that long ago where your message was a winner, where your message defined this country and I wish you all the best in reviving it. The country really does hinge on it, I think. That’s to you, and good luck,” Limbaugh said.

After the interview, Limbaugh on the air called Rubio “impressive,” and a lawmaker who has lived the immigration issue “to boot.”

“Is that guy good or what?” Limbaugh said. “Here’s a guy who doesn’t fear talk radio – he embraced it.”